St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-26

ST. PAUL. Jan. II, 1887.
President Smith in the chair.
Present: Aid. Conley, Dowlan, O'COnnor,
Cullen, Kerr. Sanborn, Weber, Starkey,
Minea, Mr.. President-1O
COMMUNICATIONS.
From His Honor, the Mayor-Call for the
Meeting
The Mayor called the meeting by request
OF Aid. O'Connor Kahn and Starkey, for
the transaction OF general business.
Accepted.
Annual Reports
10 the Honorable the President and Com
mon Council of the City of st. Paul:
transmit herewith the annual reports of
the several city officials of the City Of ST.
raul. all of which have been prepared with
commendable care and zeal, and which,
without exception, make gratifying show
ing OF the work accomplished in the several
departments of the municipal government
during the year preceding the 1st day Of
November last
The Increase in the volume of business
transacted, as shown by the exhaustive and
comprehensive character of tile reports,
mas exceeded that of any preceding YEAR
anu the general Improvement in the con-
duct and work of the various branches of
the administration has kept pace with the
almost marvellous DEVELOPMENT and adj
Vancement of the city's interests at large.
The report Of the Inspector of Bull dings
shows the number of buildings erected dur
ing the year to have been 1870 at an esti-
mated actual cost Of 50, 1913, 445, the stated
pfooaOle cost at the time Of the issuance Of
the permits and before the work of con-
struction commenced being Sc. 056, 032. the
former sum, however, more truly approx
mating the actual cost
IN this connection q comparison is inSti-
tuted with the city Of New Yorll, in which
1t is shown that for the year 1885 the latter
city issued only 5,5O4 permits to
build, thus making the admirable
showing that st. Paul came within
a fraction of two-thrds Of issuing
as many permits as the largest city III the
United States, her population being fifteen
times less than that of New York city. 1t
is gratifying TO know that the building de-
partment is self-sustaining.
The report calls attention to the necessity
of additional help and recommends the APP
pointment OF extra skilled assistants and
inspectors, all of which, l trust. will re.
ceiye your consideration.
The revenue of the city. as shown by the
report of the City Treasurer, is on a deciel-
eddy sound and healthy basis. The total
receipts for the year ending Nov l, 1886.
were SIS, 046, 9l4.59, the expenditures for
the same period being So, 905. 021, leaving
balance distributed to the several funds of
Sl4l, 1913. The largest item Of revenue as
derived from local assessments, is that of
street grading, the assessment for which
amounted 10 S478, 534 81; the assessment
for sidewalks amounted to 500, 434. 96; for
paving, S64. 684. Al; for sewerage. S149. $50.
and for street openings S123, $40, adj Of
which several sums, with the exception of
small fraction, have been collected with
the least possible delay and without friction
or trouble.
For the fiscal year of this state ending
July 81, 1856, the total receipts of the
Stale Treasurer were So, 74S. S64, while the
disbursements of that official were 50, &c.
f19. The expenditures of the city, it will
be seen, are SIS. 301 in excess of those
of the state, the foregoing comparisons
being Instituted to show the great
Gnd increased volume of business in
connection with the growth and develop
ment of the city, and the beneficent and
extensive character of the public improve
mentS already made.
a Surer indice Of the commercial supre-
macy and general prosperity of the city
could not be found.
Owing to the rapid increase in population
and growth OF the city much of this work
has been accomplished with difficulty. oc-
casioned by the absence Of adequate facili-
ties for the transaction Of the constantly
growing volume of business.
This fact is alluded to in The reports, and
in most instances the probable remedies are
suggested in the accompanying recommen-
dationS, to which l call your special atten-
ton.
| trust the latter Will receive the earnest
attention of your honorable body, with the
view of making such changes and granting
such relief as may be practicable and neces-
sary.
| call your special attention to the recon-
mendations OF the Board of Public Works
and to the Board Of Water Commissioners
BY reference to the report of the Board of
Public Works it Will be seen that the work
accomplished has been equal to the amount
done for any two years preceding. During
the year sections Of III miles of street
have been graded, at a cost of S709, 1853, the
cost per mile bein SIC, $40; there were also
2 34-100 miles Of street paved, the total cost
of the Improvements being 81. 925, 46S, the
addition of the Engineers Department.
which is included in this report, making a
total of 50, 900, SOC.
The sum raised by local assessments was
S1.314.257.
The report of the Workhouse Board
shows very gratifying results.
The Health Officers report shows the
sanitary condition of the city to be excel
lent, the annual death rate per one thousand
Inhabitants being 12.0S which, it appears.
is lower than that OF other cities OF equal
size Oh this continent.
The report of the Chief of Police con-
talnS recommendations which | commend
TO your careful consideration.
The condition Of the Police Department
requires most Watchfu care. 1t is now too
much constrained by law. The Mayor
should have more power touching appoint
mentS and removals. There should be q
Police Inspector whose duty 1t should be to
examine ana report TO the Mayor upon the
moral, mental and educational Qualilica-
tons OF applicants for appointments upon
the police force; to superintend the instruc-
ton Of the force in the manual of arms and
evoiutions and in their duties under the
ordinances, laws and rules LAID down in the
Police Manual, and generally to aid the
Chief OF Police and Mayor in promoting
the efficiency of the force.
But as amendments to the charter are
now under consideration by the Corpora
tion Attorney and your Legislative Com
mittee. 1 refrain from further suggestions,
save that the fiscal year should be estab-
lished by law and the annual reports OF the
various departments be required to be made
to the Mayor at a stated time prior to sub
mission to the Common Council. to enable
the executive to examine and communicate
to the Legislative Department his views
thereon.
The establishment of a uniform time
would also avert much labor and confusion
The reports submitted herewith. as re-
ln,r